Victims of Moore tornado identified

May 22, 2013

Loading Photo Galleries ...

Written by

Natalie DiBlasio, Daniel Christian, Greg Lobel, USA TODAY

At sunrise, police patrol a partially-destroyed row of houses adjacent to a group of homes completely leveled on Monday when a tornado moved through Moore, Okla., Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb, flattening a wide swath of homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) / AP

This aerial view shows an entire neighborhood destroyed by Monday's tornado, Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Moore, Okla. A huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) / AP

More

ADVERTISEMENT

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office has identified 23 of 24 people killed in the tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla., on Monday, devastating the Oklahoma City suburb. Ten of the dead were children, two of those infants.

Here is a closer look at those lost in the tragedy. Some names have not yet been released.

Antonia Canderaria, 9, was born Nov. 16, 2003, in Oklahoma. She was the sister of Trinity Candelaria and Lillian Rosson and daughter of Brandie Candelaria and Jimmy Rosson, according to an obituary in The Oklahoman.

Kyle Davis, 8, was a third-grader at Plaza Towers Elementary School. Kyle loved playing soccer, going to Monster Jam Truck events, riding 4-wheelers with his family and friends, and playing with his sister and cousins, according to The Oklahoman.

Megan Futrell, 29, and her 4-month-old son, Case, died after the roof collapsed on the 7-Eleven where they were riding out the storm in a walk-in cooler. "She was my sister I never had," said cousin Amy Pulliam, according to The Oklahoman.

Ja'Nae Hornsby, 9,was a student at Plaza Towers Elementary School, said her pastor, James Dorn of Mount Triumph Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. "She was an awesome child, awesome student in school, the kind of child that made you happy to be around,'' he said. "She wasn't troublesome. Just a super kid that always had a smile on her face.'' Dorn said the girl's parents rushed to the school when the twister hit and were unable to find their daughter. They went to shelters and called hospitals hoping to find her. "Then (Tuesday) morning they were informed by the medical examiner that Ja'Nae was one of the children that lost her life,'' Dorn said, adding that the church was establishing a memorial fund in her honor.

Christopher Legg, 9, was a third grader. Cousin Brian Trumbly says Christopher was a "very outgoing kid" who loved football. Trumbly set up an online fundraiser to help the family. "I set the fund up yesterday to try to get them some money and get them back on their feet," he said. They have three kids: Haley, the youngest; Christopher in the middle and Alison, the oldest," he said.

(Page 2 of 2)

Terri Long, 49, was a Federal Aviation Administration employee. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association posted a quote Tuesday from the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists on Long's death. "PASS is saddened by the loss of one of our sisters, Oklahoma Chapter Vice President Terri Long. Terri lost her life during the tornado that struck yesterday in Moore, Okla. Please keep Terri and her family in your thoughts during this difficult time."

Nicolas McCabe, 9, was in the third grade at Plaza Towers Elementary. A post on a fundraising site in his memory reads: "He was born on June 4, 2004, and was so full of life and smiles. He sure loved his Legos!" The page has raised more than $2,000.

Tawauna Robinson, 45, lived near Plaza Towers Elementary. Her daughter Angeletta Santiago was planning to move to Oklahoma City on Tuesday morning to be closer to Robinson. Santiago says she had a short phone conversation with her mother around 2:30 p.m. Monday, during the storm. Tewauna told her daughter she was seeking shelter in her closet, and that the tornado had touched down. She said "I love you," and then hung up.

Shannon Quick, 40, was the mother of two boys: an 8-year-old and a 13-year-old named Tanner, who was injured in the tornado. Mona Penn, Quick's mother-in-law, commented on her family's situation to the Wall Street Journal: "If God's willing to take you, he's going to take you," she said in the parking lot outside of the emergency room, as tears spilled down her cheeks. "But I don't want to lose two of them."

Karina Vargyas, 4, and sister Sydney Vargyas, 7 months, were killed in their home. An uncle, Mike Canady, remembers how Karina would cheer on her older brother at his football games. Karina and Sydney leave behind their father, Phillip, their mother, Laurinda, and two older siblings, Damon, 11 and Aria, 8. Phillip Vargyas said of the girls' deaths: "There is nothing you can do, nothing anyone can do at this point," according to the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom.